I'm a McCain Man, Through and Through--Unless the Democrats Nominate Obama. Then, Forget the McCain Thing

Barack Obama cultivates an image as a politician whose appeal reaches
across party lines. But even he might be surprised to learn that one of
his biggest admirers works for GOP Sen. John McCain--a Republican rival
for the presidency in 2008. Mark McKinnon, a senior media adviser to
McCain--who led George W. Bush's ad efforts in 2000 and 2004, and
remains one of the sitting president's closest friends--has told the
McCain campaign that he would quit if Obama wins the Democratic
nomination.

McKinnon,
a lifelong Democrat until he decided to team up with Bush, developed a
bond with McCain over their shared belief in the need to remain
committed to the troops in Iraq. McKinnon helped organize McCain's last
book tour and has traveled extensively with the senator, offering media
advice to the candidate for much of the last year. But he wrote a memo
to the campaign in January, explaining that he would quit if the
general election pitted McCain against Obama. McKinnon wrote that while
he opposed Obama's policies, especially on Iraq, he felt that the
Illinois senator--as an African-American politician--has a unique
potential to change the country. Therefore, McKinnon argued, he wanted
no part in any efforts to tear down Obama's candidacy. (McKinnon, who
has previously told friends he was inspired by Obama's autobiography,
refused to comment on the memo, as did Brian Jones, McCain's
communications director; Obama's campaign said that the senator had
never met McKinnon.)

But McKinnon's views have not stopped
McCain from launching attacks on Obama. Last month, the two senators
traded personal barbs over Iraq. McCain accused Obama of having a
policy of surrender on Iraq, while Obama accused McCain of being out of
touch with reality in Iraq. The skirmishing at the staff level was
fiercer still; an unnamed McCain aide suggested that Obama wouldn't
know the difference between a bomb and a bong.--With Holly Bailey